Governor Culver and legislative Democrats followed the wrong agenda and now our students will miss out.

Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) today issued the following statement after the Iowa Department of Education learned that Iowa was not picked as a finalist for the national “Race to the Top” education grant program:

“It should come as no surprise that Iowa was not selected as a finalist for the national “Race to the Top” grant program considering Governor Culver and legislative Democrats submitted an application that failed to meet the essential guidelines laid out by the Obama Administration. Senate Republicans attempted to improve Iowa’s chances by advancing key areas regarding pay for performance, student achievement and charter schools among others but Culver and his allies chose to listen to their union bosses and instead ignore the needs of our students.”